So, the other day I managed to finish a full-blown short story. Ok, so it's not actually the first one I have done. But I am particularly proud of this one. It is actually the sequel to my previous one, and continues the tale of the northern barbarian, Ryvor, and the spirit-possessed gauntlet that he is unable to be rid of. Ryvor himself is an unapologetic nod to Robert E. Howard, and I think he is the type of character old Bob might have created. I tried to give a complete experience with this story, though it is part of a larger narrative. How much larger is up in the air. My original intent was to write about ten stories about this character, each being a stand-alone tale, but when read in order and together, they tell a complete over-arcing story. The story has been posted on my FictionPress page for now (see my link to the right), and I'm inviting any and all to read and critique it. Eventually, it will be taken down when I am ready to submit it for publication.
There you go. My first, serious attempt at a publishable piece of fiction. And I have to say, finishing it has given me a new sense of purpose and a bit more motivation. I am eager to begin writing more stories, and am currently reviewing my plethora of false starts for something to finish and polish up. No genre seems safe from me, as my two current front runners are a military sci-fi story and a western.
Not sure how quickly either will get done, though, as my writing muscles are currently being worked out with homework for my last history class before earning my BA in History, and a psychology class that I needed to take so I could manipulate the financial aide system. Both have 10-page research papers due in a couple of weeks. The history one (actually, Historiography, the study of studying history) is about the Vikings. So, it should be pretty interesting, once I narrow my focus down enough.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Gaming Jones
Quick note, I have moved my "Fit Gamer" series to the Wizards of the Coast Community (see the link over to the right). I'm also considering re-posting it as a whole new blog. I have one set up, but haven't actually done it yet.
Anyways, for the past week or so I have been feeling a serious jones to play some new/different RPG. I've been contemplating hitting up the other game store here in town for something. My only problem is players. And, well, time to play. With a full time job as an at-home dad, taking two online college courses (one of which will finally net me my long-awaited BA in History), and various and sundry other concerns, I'm not sure when or how I would fit another game in. I mean, we play D&D every other weekend, and it's fun. But for some reason, I'm thinking a sci-fi/space opera game would be very cool.
I dunno, maybe I'll just pick something up used. I saw a copy of Fading Suns in the used book store yesterday. That always looked kinda cool.
In other news, the diabetes is coming along fine. My blood sugar levels are consistently down to "almost normal" levels. Normal is 90-130 before eating. My morning level ranges from about 125-160. So, while not perfect, I'm doing better. And more importantly, I feel a lot better. No more fatigue. I have energy to do things, and have been motivated to actually hit the gym on a regular basis.
I'm revving up to do more writing. I've suspended both my MMO accounts in order to free myself from the resistance they provide. Now I need to find a time to schedule writing, and make a habit of following that schedule and writing something every day. I've also been motivated to draw more lately. We'll see where that goes.
And that's about it for me, folks!
Anyways, for the past week or so I have been feeling a serious jones to play some new/different RPG. I've been contemplating hitting up the other game store here in town for something. My only problem is players. And, well, time to play. With a full time job as an at-home dad, taking two online college courses (one of which will finally net me my long-awaited BA in History), and various and sundry other concerns, I'm not sure when or how I would fit another game in. I mean, we play D&D every other weekend, and it's fun. But for some reason, I'm thinking a sci-fi/space opera game would be very cool.
I dunno, maybe I'll just pick something up used. I saw a copy of Fading Suns in the used book store yesterday. That always looked kinda cool.
In other news, the diabetes is coming along fine. My blood sugar levels are consistently down to "almost normal" levels. Normal is 90-130 before eating. My morning level ranges from about 125-160. So, while not perfect, I'm doing better. And more importantly, I feel a lot better. No more fatigue. I have energy to do things, and have been motivated to actually hit the gym on a regular basis.
I'm revving up to do more writing. I've suspended both my MMO accounts in order to free myself from the resistance they provide. Now I need to find a time to schedule writing, and make a habit of following that schedule and writing something every day. I've also been motivated to draw more lately. We'll see where that goes.
And that's about it for me, folks!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
The Fit Gamer: Part 1
Walk into any game store (as in one that sells RPGs/Comics/CCGs/etc...) and chances are the patrons that are present will be fine specimens of sloth and gluttony. I know, because for a long time I was one of them. These hobbies seemed to perpetuate this kind of lifestyle. Think about it, whether you're role-playing, dueling with cards or waging a mini battle, what position are you most often in? You're sitting on your ponderous derriere! And more often than not you are consuming mass quantities of Mt. Dew and nachos (or whatever unhealthy, yet scrumptious snacks you prefer). In fact, I would wager that for most gamers the closest thing to a "workout" is lugging game supplies to and from their gaming venue. Mind you, that's usually no small feat. D&D gamers often carry 3-5 books, plus paper, dice and other sundries (like the aforementioned Mt. Dew) to a typical gaming session. When placed in a single backpack, this can be the equivalent of a 30-pound rucksack. But, whereas an infantryman will hump that ruck for miles (with rifle in hand), a D&Der will usually only have to hoof it about 25-50 feet, depending on how far back in the store their table is.
So, how do we get out of this rut? Well, the answer is simple: Expend more energy and take in less excess fuel. That means get off your butt and move, and stop gorging yourself on Snickers bars and Cool Ranch Doritos. Ok, it sounds simple, but common sense (and even a little experience) will tell you that is a bit of an oversimplified answer. The real answer can be complicated, but definitely doable.
Exercise
Let's start with exercise, since it's probably the simplest part. Most people think of exercise and think going to the gym and hitting the weights or taking an aerobics class. And while those are good examples, that's just part of it. Basically, exercise is anything that will get your heart rate up, and use more muscles than you normally do. Something as simple as going outside and walking for a half-hour will do wonders for you. That's how I started a few years ago. I worked in a law office and after a life-event that I don't want to get into, I found myself really wanting to get away from my desk at lunch. Previously that often entailed a trip to McD's. But one day I decided to go for a walk instead. Within a few days I was bringing shorts, a t-shirt and gym shoes to work, and walking longer distances. Then I added a couple of 3-lb. hand weights. Within a couple of months I was running part of my route. I lost 30 pounds in about three months. And most of that was due to the exercise (my diet changed drastically too, but we'll discuss that later).
Mind you, by this time I was in my 30's, and had served six years in the Army as an Airborne Infantryman as a young man. So, I was no stranger to exercise and fitness. But the fact is, I was never a jock in high school, and when I first went to Basic Training at age 18, I could barely do the required 13 push ups (remember that scene near the beginning of the movie Stripes when Bill Murray struggled to do 3?).
So, starting out....what's best? Well, my recommendation is this: Start with some mild cardio exercise (such as walking or swimming) 3 times a week. Try for at least 20 minutes at a time. More is better, but any amount is good, as long as you gradually add to it in some way. If you are inclined to do some strength training, I would start with some calisthenics (using your own body weight) such as push ups, pull ups and sit ups. A quick internet search will net you hundreds of websites that can explain the mechanics of these exercies better than I can here. If you have some dumbells, there are websites and books dedicated to using these to get a total body workout.
This is a basic "crash course" in getting more healthy. Next time I'll go over the basics of nutrition and diet. Later I'll go into more detail about both parts of the equation. Until then, get moving!
So, how do we get out of this rut? Well, the answer is simple: Expend more energy and take in less excess fuel. That means get off your butt and move, and stop gorging yourself on Snickers bars and Cool Ranch Doritos. Ok, it sounds simple, but common sense (and even a little experience) will tell you that is a bit of an oversimplified answer. The real answer can be complicated, but definitely doable.
Exercise
Let's start with exercise, since it's probably the simplest part. Most people think of exercise and think going to the gym and hitting the weights or taking an aerobics class. And while those are good examples, that's just part of it. Basically, exercise is anything that will get your heart rate up, and use more muscles than you normally do. Something as simple as going outside and walking for a half-hour will do wonders for you. That's how I started a few years ago. I worked in a law office and after a life-event that I don't want to get into, I found myself really wanting to get away from my desk at lunch. Previously that often entailed a trip to McD's. But one day I decided to go for a walk instead. Within a few days I was bringing shorts, a t-shirt and gym shoes to work, and walking longer distances. Then I added a couple of 3-lb. hand weights. Within a couple of months I was running part of my route. I lost 30 pounds in about three months. And most of that was due to the exercise (my diet changed drastically too, but we'll discuss that later).
Mind you, by this time I was in my 30's, and had served six years in the Army as an Airborne Infantryman as a young man. So, I was no stranger to exercise and fitness. But the fact is, I was never a jock in high school, and when I first went to Basic Training at age 18, I could barely do the required 13 push ups (remember that scene near the beginning of the movie Stripes when Bill Murray struggled to do 3?).
So, starting out....what's best? Well, my recommendation is this: Start with some mild cardio exercise (such as walking or swimming) 3 times a week. Try for at least 20 minutes at a time. More is better, but any amount is good, as long as you gradually add to it in some way. If you are inclined to do some strength training, I would start with some calisthenics (using your own body weight) such as push ups, pull ups and sit ups. A quick internet search will net you hundreds of websites that can explain the mechanics of these exercies better than I can here. If you have some dumbells, there are websites and books dedicated to using these to get a total body workout.
This is a basic "crash course" in getting more healthy. Next time I'll go over the basics of nutrition and diet. Later I'll go into more detail about both parts of the equation. Until then, get moving!
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Superspies!
So, lately I've been back on the whole "superspy" kick. Watched a couple of my favorite James Bond movies (Craig's Casino Royale and Dalton's The Living Daylights), reading my second Mack Bolan book in a row (I usually read one then switch genres for a while), and dusting off an old story I started writing about another '00' agent, Andrew Hearst, 005.The 005 story is obviously fanfiction, as it contains references to copyrighted characters and concepts. However, I am toying with the idea of changing those to something original and running with it. My quandary is, do I want to create my own MI6, or do I want to make him a CIA agent? Another option I considered is making up my own, elite organization. Something along the lines of Stony Man from the Mack Bolan universe. I'm leaning towards this third option, as it gives me a lot of creative freedom. The downside is, that it wouldn't be grounded in reality very much, so, outside the Bolanverse crowd, it probably wouldn't get much notice.
Why am I doing this? Why am I allowing myself to be once more distracted by the next "shiny object"? Because that's what I do. I love a wide variety of genres, and when I read any given story, I always wonder if I could write something like that. I know the conventional wisdom is that a fiction writer should limit what he writes to a specific genre (though there is some wiggle room, especially in the science fiction/fantasy realm). Still, a superspy thriller is pretty far from a sword & sorcery epic. Yet, I can't help but wonder which I would be better at. Which one would I enjoy writing more? And yes, which one would be more likely to sell. Again, conventional wisdom says that a real writer isn't concerned with writing "what sells" but is more concerned with finding their true voice. But what's wrong with doing both? Are they mutually exclusive? I don't think so. I'd like to be able to write any genre I like and know that A) I enjoyed writing it, B) I would enjoy reading it, and C) others would enjoy it enough to buy it (hence the "sellable" angle).
Am I rambling? Am I making sense? Does anyone have any advice or thoughts or ideas?
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Vignettes
Ok, so, I've decided to focus this blog on subjects related to writing. It's what I do. It's what I would like to get paid for doing. And it's something I feel I'm good at.
So, on the subject of writing, it should be obvious to anyone who knows me (or even reads this blog) that I have a very short attention span. In fact, I believe I mention it in every entry related to writing. Ok, yeah, I tend to repeat myself. Sue me. Anyways, one thing I like to do is vignettes. Although that term is usually associated with scripts and poetry, I like the term for what is more commonly refered to as flash fiction, sudden fiction, microfiction, micro-story, postcard fiction, prosetry and short short story. Basically, it's just a small peep into a larger story. I usually do these for my RPG characters, just to help me get a feel for the setting and story, and how my character fits in. I find them great fun, and good warm up exercises to keep my writing muscles loose. I'm curious if anyone else ever does these?
Below is one of my favorites that I did a few years back for a World of Warcraft character. I had created him on a PvP server, and this little snippet was a fictionalized narrative of his first (and my first) PvP experience. Enjoy. And comment and/or critique if you like.
***
Uthorius had been tracking the elusive orc for hours. It was a hunter, just as he was, and a crafty one. It always amazed the night elf how such foul and savage creatures as orcs could master the subtler arts of woodsmanship. And yet here was proof of just that.
The elf had run across the tracks while hunting bear here in Ashenvale. It had only been three footprints, and not very deep. But they were broad and long, and turned slightly inward, indicating an orc, rather then say a dwarf or human. Nearby, Uthorius had also found a paw print of some large cat.
So, it has a pet as well. He had thought. His hand strayed to his own pet wolf, Fleabag. So named for his annoying habit of stopping to scratch himself at the most awkward times, including combat on occasion. A hunter’s bond with his pet was supernatural, and thoughts and feelings were shared at an instinctive level, making the pair a powerful team.
“Worry not,” he whispered to Fleabag, “your teeth will soon be at the throat of this one’s pet kitten.”
Uthorius was not entirely familiar with these woods, having only recently come to them. But he was fast learning their layout. So he knew that just over the next rise was Raynewood Retreat, an outpost of druids and centaurs. He was on friendly terms with them, and he knew that if the orc had passed nearby, they would probably know of it.
As he crested the ridge, the site that assailed him made the night elf’s blood boil.
In front of the elven structure was a scene of unprecedented carnage. Several elven druids, some still in bear-form lay dead or dying. And in the middle of it all, crouching on the ramp into the retreat stood the orc. He was a muscular brute, with black oily hair. Uthorius could almost smell the filth that surely wafted from the crude leather armor it wore. Beside it was a large cat, it’s tawny hide and short mane indicating it to be one of those native to the Barrens.
Presently, the orc hadn’t noticed the approach of the elf, so Uthorius took cover behind a tree and unslung his bow and drew an arrow, all in one fluid movement. The creature was raising its own bow, and taking a bead on something inside the building. The elf raised his and in turn took a bead on the orc, instinctively keeping Fleabag near his side. He knew that as soon as he let the shaft go, the cat would react by rushing him.
Although he wanted to shoot the orc before it could do more harm, he knew that, tactically, it would be better to catch the creature in a crossfire of sorts. So, he waited until the orc fired, trusting in the toughness and healing abilities of its target to withstand the first arrow. As it did so, Uthorius let his own shaft fly, imbuing it with magic force that would stun the creature upon impact.
The shot was straight and true, and impacted with an audible crack. The orc grunted and reeled, but was unable to react, as a giant bear charged out of the building and attacked. As he knew it would, the orc’s pet reacted by running towards the elf. But it never got close, as the white form of Fleabag bolted from cover and met the cat’s charge with snarling fury.
The elf let shaft after shaft fly, some imbued with more magical energy, causing greater harm. Between the expertly shot arrows and the druid’s bear-form attacks, the orc stood no chance. Before it could even register that it was being attacked from two sides, it was down. And as it fell, it’s cat disappeared in a puff, it’s supernatural link temporarily broken.
Uthorius took a moment to revel in the victory. But he knew it was only a small one. For death was anything but permanent in Azeroth. And he knew that the orc would probably be back.
Perhaps it will have learned a lesson, though, and decide to steer clear of elven lands. Not likely, as orcs are notoriously stubborn and thick-headed. So, Uthorius and those like him would always be here to defend the realms from such savage stupidity.
So, on the subject of writing, it should be obvious to anyone who knows me (or even reads this blog) that I have a very short attention span. In fact, I believe I mention it in every entry related to writing. Ok, yeah, I tend to repeat myself. Sue me. Anyways, one thing I like to do is vignettes. Although that term is usually associated with scripts and poetry, I like the term for what is more commonly refered to as flash fiction, sudden fiction, microfiction, micro-story, postcard fiction, prosetry and short short story. Basically, it's just a small peep into a larger story. I usually do these for my RPG characters, just to help me get a feel for the setting and story, and how my character fits in. I find them great fun, and good warm up exercises to keep my writing muscles loose. I'm curious if anyone else ever does these?
Below is one of my favorites that I did a few years back for a World of Warcraft character. I had created him on a PvP server, and this little snippet was a fictionalized narrative of his first (and my first) PvP experience. Enjoy. And comment and/or critique if you like.
***
Uthorius had been tracking the elusive orc for hours. It was a hunter, just as he was, and a crafty one. It always amazed the night elf how such foul and savage creatures as orcs could master the subtler arts of woodsmanship. And yet here was proof of just that.
The elf had run across the tracks while hunting bear here in Ashenvale. It had only been three footprints, and not very deep. But they were broad and long, and turned slightly inward, indicating an orc, rather then say a dwarf or human. Nearby, Uthorius had also found a paw print of some large cat.
So, it has a pet as well. He had thought. His hand strayed to his own pet wolf, Fleabag. So named for his annoying habit of stopping to scratch himself at the most awkward times, including combat on occasion. A hunter’s bond with his pet was supernatural, and thoughts and feelings were shared at an instinctive level, making the pair a powerful team.
“Worry not,” he whispered to Fleabag, “your teeth will soon be at the throat of this one’s pet kitten.”
Uthorius was not entirely familiar with these woods, having only recently come to them. But he was fast learning their layout. So he knew that just over the next rise was Raynewood Retreat, an outpost of druids and centaurs. He was on friendly terms with them, and he knew that if the orc had passed nearby, they would probably know of it.
As he crested the ridge, the site that assailed him made the night elf’s blood boil.
In front of the elven structure was a scene of unprecedented carnage. Several elven druids, some still in bear-form lay dead or dying. And in the middle of it all, crouching on the ramp into the retreat stood the orc. He was a muscular brute, with black oily hair. Uthorius could almost smell the filth that surely wafted from the crude leather armor it wore. Beside it was a large cat, it’s tawny hide and short mane indicating it to be one of those native to the Barrens.
Presently, the orc hadn’t noticed the approach of the elf, so Uthorius took cover behind a tree and unslung his bow and drew an arrow, all in one fluid movement. The creature was raising its own bow, and taking a bead on something inside the building. The elf raised his and in turn took a bead on the orc, instinctively keeping Fleabag near his side. He knew that as soon as he let the shaft go, the cat would react by rushing him.
Although he wanted to shoot the orc before it could do more harm, he knew that, tactically, it would be better to catch the creature in a crossfire of sorts. So, he waited until the orc fired, trusting in the toughness and healing abilities of its target to withstand the first arrow. As it did so, Uthorius let his own shaft fly, imbuing it with magic force that would stun the creature upon impact.
The shot was straight and true, and impacted with an audible crack. The orc grunted and reeled, but was unable to react, as a giant bear charged out of the building and attacked. As he knew it would, the orc’s pet reacted by running towards the elf. But it never got close, as the white form of Fleabag bolted from cover and met the cat’s charge with snarling fury.
The elf let shaft after shaft fly, some imbued with more magical energy, causing greater harm. Between the expertly shot arrows and the druid’s bear-form attacks, the orc stood no chance. Before it could even register that it was being attacked from two sides, it was down. And as it fell, it’s cat disappeared in a puff, it’s supernatural link temporarily broken.
Uthorius took a moment to revel in the victory. But he knew it was only a small one. For death was anything but permanent in Azeroth. And he knew that the orc would probably be back.
Perhaps it will have learned a lesson, though, and decide to steer clear of elven lands. Not likely, as orcs are notoriously stubborn and thick-headed. So, Uthorius and those like him would always be here to defend the realms from such savage stupidity.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Writing and Me
The seeds of my interest in writing were planted when I was very young. I was always a very capable reader, even before kindergarten. And as an only child, reading and making up stories was how I spent a lot of my childhood. I remember Flat Stanley being one of my favorite books, and I had a small stack of comics that I read through several times. Stuart Little and Charlotte's Web soon followed. When I was about 9 or 10, my stepdad would make me read books that were obviously meant for adults. I remember being forced to read a book called Kathy. It was about a young girl who was paralyzed, and how she and her family learned to cope with it (yeah, depressing for a 10 year old). And once, when I got in trouble, that same stepdad told me "Go to your room and read your bible." So I did. I started with Genesis 1:1, and made it to somewhere in Psalms before being called for dinner. My mom had no idea where I was. Yeah, he didn't last much longer.
Anyways, at the beginning of 6th grade, I moved from Kansas back to my hometown in California, and at school there I was introduced to Dungeons & Dragons. Vin Diesel, in his introduction to 30 Years of Adventure, called D&D "the training ground for the imagination." And that's exactly what it was for me. Because it lead to me seeing Conan the Barbarian, which lead me to reading the Ace editions (all 12), the first of which I had initially thought was based on the movie. I have learned a LOT about the character since then (which is a subject for a whole other post), and I was introduced to the most influential writer for me: Robert E. Howard. Now, I'm not going to go on and on about Bob, but suffice it to say, if you have any interest in well-told stories of action and adventure, and you haven't read anything of his, you should remedy that post haste.
Anyways, D&D also lead me to other genres of RPGs, which also lead me to read other genres of fiction. I can safely say that, to date, I have read at least one novel from every genre (and just about every sub-genre) one can name. Even a couple of romances. But my writing remained solidly in the fantasy and science fiction genres. Until I met Mack Bolan.
In 1984, my friend Matt and I had a healthy (or maybe unhealthy) interest in guns and other military hardware (no doubt due to his extensive collection of realistic Airsoft guns). One day, while waiting for the bus at the Air Force base I found myself living on (mom had joined up, which was what spurred my move from Kansas in the first place, and her dumping the Stepdad From Hell), I saw the cover of Crude Kill on the book rack. For a discounted price that was below $2, I entered the world of Men's Adventure, and developed a deep passion for Mack Bolan and his brand of justice (for those who don't know, Marvel Comics' The Punisher was unofficially based on/copied from Mack Bolan). Later I would try to write my own stories about an original character named Darryl Knox. I recently found the notebook I used. Horribly bad writing, to say the least.
Anyways, from backgrounds for RPG characters (particularly Tomos Elvenblood, my half-elf fighter...ok, stopping there) and the misadventures of Darryl Knox and Iroc Thompson (Matt's creation), I have spent the last 25+ years playing at writing. Many genres, many characters, many stories. Some good, some so-so, and some downright icky. What it all amounts to is about 1,000+ starts, dozens of vignettes, and a handful of complete short stories (none of which are publishable).
Do I dare call myself a writer yet? I don't know. What does that mean, exactly? I write, so technically I guess that makes me a writer. Hell, I'm writing right this minute. But without a full story told, a writer may as well be a chimp at a keyboard. True? I've always been of the opinion that publication is required to obtain that title. Then again, maybe that's the difference between a writer and an author.
My conundrum is that I am like a raccoon when it comes to writing. I get very passionate about a project, until something else shiny catches my eye, and I lose focus, drive and momentum. Of course, my problem lately has been focus to begin with. Life has handed me and my family a lot of lemons lately, so it's difficult to set aside the real world, and plunge into the fantasy realms where my stories lay.
So, there you have it. The history of Tom the Writer. Will he ever make it beyond where he is? Hmmmm...
Anyways, at the beginning of 6th grade, I moved from Kansas back to my hometown in California, and at school there I was introduced to Dungeons & Dragons. Vin Diesel, in his introduction to 30 Years of Adventure, called D&D "the training ground for the imagination." And that's exactly what it was for me. Because it lead to me seeing Conan the Barbarian, which lead me to reading the Ace editions (all 12), the first of which I had initially thought was based on the movie. I have learned a LOT about the character since then (which is a subject for a whole other post), and I was introduced to the most influential writer for me: Robert E. Howard. Now, I'm not going to go on and on about Bob, but suffice it to say, if you have any interest in well-told stories of action and adventure, and you haven't read anything of his, you should remedy that post haste.
Anyways, D&D also lead me to other genres of RPGs, which also lead me to read other genres of fiction. I can safely say that, to date, I have read at least one novel from every genre (and just about every sub-genre) one can name. Even a couple of romances. But my writing remained solidly in the fantasy and science fiction genres. Until I met Mack Bolan.
In 1984, my friend Matt and I had a healthy (or maybe unhealthy) interest in guns and other military hardware (no doubt due to his extensive collection of realistic Airsoft guns). One day, while waiting for the bus at the Air Force base I found myself living on (mom had joined up, which was what spurred my move from Kansas in the first place, and her dumping the Stepdad From Hell), I saw the cover of Crude Kill on the book rack. For a discounted price that was below $2, I entered the world of Men's Adventure, and developed a deep passion for Mack Bolan and his brand of justice (for those who don't know, Marvel Comics' The Punisher was unofficially based on/copied from Mack Bolan). Later I would try to write my own stories about an original character named Darryl Knox. I recently found the notebook I used. Horribly bad writing, to say the least.
Anyways, from backgrounds for RPG characters (particularly Tomos Elvenblood, my half-elf fighter...ok, stopping there) and the misadventures of Darryl Knox and Iroc Thompson (Matt's creation), I have spent the last 25+ years playing at writing. Many genres, many characters, many stories. Some good, some so-so, and some downright icky. What it all amounts to is about 1,000+ starts, dozens of vignettes, and a handful of complete short stories (none of which are publishable).
Do I dare call myself a writer yet? I don't know. What does that mean, exactly? I write, so technically I guess that makes me a writer. Hell, I'm writing right this minute. But without a full story told, a writer may as well be a chimp at a keyboard. True? I've always been of the opinion that publication is required to obtain that title. Then again, maybe that's the difference between a writer and an author.
My conundrum is that I am like a raccoon when it comes to writing. I get very passionate about a project, until something else shiny catches my eye, and I lose focus, drive and momentum. Of course, my problem lately has been focus to begin with. Life has handed me and my family a lot of lemons lately, so it's difficult to set aside the real world, and plunge into the fantasy realms where my stories lay.
So, there you have it. The history of Tom the Writer. Will he ever make it beyond where he is? Hmmmm...
Jack of Some Trades...
I recently had a revelation of sorts. I am "above average" at a lot of things, and some things I am downright "good" at. But there is nothing I can call myself an "expert" at. Or even "highly skilled." I mean, I can draw better than the average person, but I'm nowhere near professional level. I can write a decent story, but my writing is very unpolished, and I have a horrible time with getting through a single project. I know a lot about computers, but anything more than maintenance and I get lost (the exception to that is MS Excel...I have taught classes in that).
I could go on, but the point is, all of my life-experience and education has produced nothing more than someone who is slightly above-average in many regards, but in the big picture, nothing spectacular.
And this is what places me where I am in life. I am turning 40 years old this year. I look around and see people I went to high school with enjoying fruitful lives, with steady careers, many with advanced college degrees. And then I look in the mirror and see a person whose only definable contribution is that he is a good husband and dad. And on some days, even those are debatable.
Mind you, this isn't a bitch-fest, or a woe-is-me blog post. This is just me, putting my life in perspective, and trying to figure out what I am doing here. I have no goals or aspirations to speak of. I mean, I'd love to be a published author, or a screenwriter, or a game-designer. I know I am an inherently creative person, and my instincts tell me I should follow that course somehow.
So, here it is. Time to decide how I will make a life and career out of being creative...
I could go on, but the point is, all of my life-experience and education has produced nothing more than someone who is slightly above-average in many regards, but in the big picture, nothing spectacular.
And this is what places me where I am in life. I am turning 40 years old this year. I look around and see people I went to high school with enjoying fruitful lives, with steady careers, many with advanced college degrees. And then I look in the mirror and see a person whose only definable contribution is that he is a good husband and dad. And on some days, even those are debatable.
Mind you, this isn't a bitch-fest, or a woe-is-me blog post. This is just me, putting my life in perspective, and trying to figure out what I am doing here. I have no goals or aspirations to speak of. I mean, I'd love to be a published author, or a screenwriter, or a game-designer. I know I am an inherently creative person, and my instincts tell me I should follow that course somehow.
So, here it is. Time to decide how I will make a life and career out of being creative...
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